The summer's 20 hottest new restaurants and bars to open in Tampa Bay

The Madison Noho

1704 N Howard Ave., Tampa
A new restaurant dishing out classic American entrees and loaded brunch plates quietly opened its doors in West Tampa in late June. Owned and operated by Tampa residents Tayesha Hiner, Antonio “Polo” Allen—who also leads the kitchen as its Executive Chef—and Mikeo Smith, The Madison Noho offers a variety of straightforward dinner plates, from grilled salmon to apple-glazed pork chops, plus appetizers like calamari, chicken wings, crab cakes and oysters. On the weekend, the newly-opened eatery dishes out red velvet pancakes, eggs Benedict, lobster and waffles and Creole-style shrimp and grits at its popular brunch service. Beer, wine, and craft cocktails are on the menu, too.
Photo via The Madison Noho

Una Más

Una Más—a specialty coffee shop with light, Hispanic comfort food-inspired bites—is the brainchild of longtime Tampa baristas and hospitality maestros Paola Chamorro Ward and Curt Hensley. Local coffee lovers may not necessarily know them by name, but chances are you’ve seen them behind the bar of beloved shops like Foundation, Union and King State just to name a few. Una Más started the summer inside Fancy Free Nursery and is on the move to a new location TBD.
Photo via Una Más

Barrio

1822 E 7th Ave., Ybor City
There’s a new go-to spot for tacos, margaritas and weekend brunch in Ybor City, and its name may sound familiar to folks from the Midwest and Northeast. Tampa Bay’s first Barrio Tacos celebrated its grand opening back in June and has been dishing out margaritas, whiskey-based cocktails, chips, salsa and build-your-own tacos since. While the taco company operates several franchises in states like Michigan, Ohio and Massachusetts, the only other Florida location of Barrio Tacos resides in Orlando.
Photo via barrio.yborcity/Facebook

Han Hand Roll Bar and Ling’s Dumplings

1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa
The stalls inside Armature Works are always changing, and the food hall's newest additions from the owners of Zukku Sushi—Ling's Dumplings and Han Hand Roll Bar—opened earlier this summer. Ling’s Dumplings offers a variety of both traditional and unique options—from pork and beef soup dumplings to bright green edamame and truffle dumplings— while Han’s Hand Roll Bar is described as an “approachable yet sophisticated sushi haven” that highlights fresh seafood like uni, salmon, o-toro, crab and more. In addition to a variety of dumplings that are wrapped in homemade, brightly-colored dough (due to pigments in ingredients like ube, spinach and beets), Ling’s also offers chilled sesame noodles, dan dan noodles and a dumpling noodle soup.
Photo via armatureworks.com

Leon's Lobstah Shack

5314 Interbay Blvd, Tampa
Earlier this summer, Leon's Lobstah Shack took over the former waterfront dining home of Taste of Boston at Ballast Point Pier. Specializing in hot and cold lobster rolls, Leon's also lobster grilled cheese, shrimp tacos, cirtus chicken salad, a grouper po boy, smash burgers, hot dogs and more.
Photo via Leon's Lobstah Shack

Esther's

2115 Hillsborough Ave., Tampa
One of Tampa's beloved, hole-in-the-wall taco trucks expanded to a much bigger space. As any Tampa taco fan will admit, the original Esther's Cafe has been a local favorite for nearly 12 years, but the truck is somewhat hard to find, since it's tucked away behind the produce stands at 3001 E Hillsborough Ave. Last May, owner Jorge Castellano debuted an easier to locate, new brick-and mortar outpost just down the street. The new Esther's Tacos officially opened May 12, and offers the same menu as the original, except with air conditioning, more seating and parking.
Photo by Colin Wolf

Rakki

6705 N Florida Ave., Tampa
While Ichicoro’s 2023 closure still leaves Seminole Heights residents craving traditional ramen, a newly-opened restaurant with globally-inspired Asian fare may help fill that void. After two years of building out its space, Asian-fusion concept Rakki finally opened its doors. Seminole Heights’ newest restaurant is in one of Tampa's best strip malls nestled between Gulf Coast Sourdough Sandwich House and Mekenita Cantina, adjacent to other popular concepts like Wicked Oak Barbecue and Revolution Ice Cream Co. While Rakki's intimate menu boasts higher-end dishes that pull from a range of Asian cuisines—from truffle mac and cheese ramen to short rib birria baos—owner and Executive Chef Israel Mora tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the concept may pivot to more casual fare sometime soon, in addition to expanding its hours to include lunch.
Photo by Pablo Medina

Lily's Sweet Treats

601 S Harbour Island Blvd #104, Tampa
Lily’s Sweet Treats debuted in The Pointe on Harbour Island earlier this summer. “Lily’s is inspired by, and named after, my daughter Lily and grandmother Lilian who owned franchise ice cream shops in New York," said said Chas Bruck, Founder of Three Oaks Hospitality in a press release. The new spot, which shares space with pizza joint The Fold, is described as a "nostalgic ice cream spot," that offers "cereals with popular candy and fresh fruit mix-ins."
Photo via Lily's Sweet Treats

Retro House

934 E Henderson Ave., Ybor City
A new cafe and fast casual restaurant soft opened this month, dishing out homemade dumplings and loaded noodle bowls out of a unique location in Ybor City. The newly-opened fast casual spot slings dumplings and other handhelds that Heritage Dim Sum is known for—with co-owner Corrinne Liou incorporating her family’s 100 year-old recipes throughout Retro House’s menu with small bites like ube baos, shu mai, lemongrass chicken dumplings, pan-fried pork baos and mango shrimp wontons. A few entrees are offered as well, including like char sui fried rice and crispy noodle bowls with customizable proteins. Expanded hours will be announced any day now.
Photo by Paul Venghaus

Florida's first Wawa drive-thru

2530 East Bay Dr., Largo
Don't call it gas station food. Sure, Wawa is technically a gas station, but at this new concept, there is no gas. Instead, the Wawa drive-thru focuses on a limited menu centered around the chain's deli sandwiches, wraps and the famous breakfast Sizzlis. The Wawa drive-thru concepts are part of the chain's plan to double its footprint and open 100 new locations around the country by 2030, says the company.
Photo via Loopnet

The Fold

601 S Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa
The Fold’s new Harbour Island location dishes out a menu that its Armature Works patrons will surely recognize, plus a few more Italian-inspired entrees. It features classic flavors of hand-tossed pizzas like pepperoni, sausage and peppers and Sicilian, as well as unique options like The Fold's "Firebird" za’ with tomato sauce, mozzarella, buffalo chicken, jalapeños and hot honey. In addition to a variety of pies and its “pizza of the day” special, The Fold’s new location also dishes out calzones, chicken and meatball parmesan sandwiches, cheesesteaks and pastas like baked ziti and rigatoni. A few sides include garlic knots, antipasto, fried mozzarella and Caesar salads.
Photo via The Fold Tampa/Facebook

Meltdown Grilled Cheese Shop

1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa
Armature Works has been silently adding new spots over the last couple months, and the latest is all about grilled cheese sammies. Meltdown Grilled Cheese Shop offers up a variety of takes on the classic lunch staple, like the Sweet and Spicy Bacon featuring Bacon, sharp cheddar, pepper jack, American, red onion, candied jalapeños, pepper jam. Served with a side of ranch.. Every sandwich comes wiht. side of curly fries, or you can add a cup of tomato soup or chili for $3.
Photo via Armature Works

Gateway Subs

803 N Tampa St., Tampa
A new up-and-comer in St. Pete's sandwich scene crossed the bridge to Tampa in late May. The popular, ever-expanding local brand offers a variety of both classic sandwiches (spicyItalians, tuna salad, turkey and bacon), as well as a few unique "Gateway Original" options. A few of these sammies include the "Cool Ranch Rider" with buffalo chicken breast, bacon, hot peppers and crushed Doritos and "Da Beast," with roast beef, mayo, Swiss cheese, onions, banana peppers and horseradish aioli. Wraps and salads are also on the Gateway menu.
Photo via Gatewaysubs/Facebook

Route 66 Diner

9721 66th St N, Pinellas Park
Tampa Bay could use more diners, and a nostalgia-fueled concept made its debut earlier this summer in Pinellas Park. Route 66 features plenty of classic American diner grub paired with a 50s diner aesthetic. Surprisingly, Route 66 also offers a pretty robust gluten-free menu, and all gluten-free options are prepared in separate ovens and fryers.
Photo via Route 66 Diner/Facebook

Champagne Porch

1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa
A new bubbly hub from Three Oaks Hospitality debuted in Tampa Heights food hall Armature Works this summer. The Champagne Porch offers up 26 different champagnes, as well as cocktails, seltzers and beers. Though there's no actual porch, the new watering hole is right off the main outdoor plaza, and does includes outdoor seating and pull-up bar stools.
Photo via Armature Works

Grove Surf + Coffee

1309 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach
St. Pete Beach’s go-to spot for craft coffee and trendy beach expanded northward this summer—and its new sister concept is even closer to the water. Grove Surf + Coffee's full-service sibling—aptly named Grove Surf Cafe—offers a variety of pastries, breakfast and light lunch options alongside lattes, matcha and other specialty beverages. While Grove Surf + Coffee boasts a massive retail section with surfing gear, beachy souvenirs and branded merchandise, Grove Surf Cafe on Indian Rocks Beach will focus more on an expanded food menu. Daytime bites on the new cafe’s menu include whipped ricotta and avocado toast, a traditional bacon egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, hearty hash brown bowl, chicken Caesar wrap and a yogurt parfait. Pastries like croissants, “Pop Tarts,” cookies and doughnuts are also made in-house.
Photo via Grovesurfcafe/Instagram

Buchette Spritz Bar

236 E Davis Blvd, Tampa
Davis Islands staple Oggi Italian launched a fun new bar concept this summer called Buchette Spritz Bar. "Originating from Italy’s bubonic plague era, 'Buchette del vino' were a lifeline for locals. Join us as we revive this piece of history in style!” said the owners. The new walk-up window offers wine-based cocktails, spritzes, bubbly, and wine. There's also light charcuterie bites up for grabs, as well.
Photo via Oggi Italian

Tiger Sugar

1518 E Fowler Ave., Tampa
Cult-favorite black sugar bubble tea chain Tiger Tea opened in the USF area earlier this summer. Known for its tiger stripe boba tea, the shop also features cheese foam tea, black sugar popcorn, black sugar milk egg rolls, and more.
Photo via Tiger Sugar/Facebook

The Last Slice

5281 Park St N, St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay is certainly rich in a great pizza joints. But last month, a new contender that's getting some serious buzz debuted in St. Pete from owners Caleb and Chryssie Bernard. The Last Slice serves up piping hot pies, as well as desserts, chicken wings, pasta, and more.
Photo via The Last Slice

Lajawab Indian Cuisine

2705 54th Ave N Suite - 3,4,5, St. Petersburg
A new chef-owned Indian concept opened this summer in St. Pete's former ABC Seafood location. Lajawab Indian Cuisine is by led by Chef Somi and Chaf Abhi, who offer up various curries and tandoori specialties. "Our menu is a reflection of our chef’s dedication to creating dishes that not only satisfy but also tell a story through taste and presentation. Expect a dining experience that is as intimate as it is flavorful," says the site.
Photo via Lajawab Indian Cuisine